Aggies to be at full strength at Kansas?
Coach Jans has not ruled out Chuha
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — New Mexico State will need some more fight to take on No. 2 Kansas tonight in the Jayhawks’ backyard, the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.
If the 7-1 Aggies will be without Eli Chuha isn’t yet known. He was seen on video obtained by an El Paso TV station taking a swing at Lobo Corey Manigault as players from both sides got into a skirmish before New Mexico State’s improbable 100-65 blowout of the Lobos on Tuesday in Las Cruces.
Neither head coach was on the floor at the time of the incident. NMSU coach Chris Jans since has said only that the matter would be handled internally and didn’t rule out Chuha, a 6-foot-7 senior forward from Redlands, Calif., from playing tonight.
Manigault, on the other hand, threw a blow that hit NMSU’s Ivan Aurrecoechea — his teammate last year at Indiana Hills Community College. Manigault made the trip to Los Angeles for the Lobos’ 85-60 loss to St. Mary’s at the Staples Center but did not play.
The Aggies figure to need Chuha and all the other help they can get in a nationally televised matchup against one of college basketball’s iconic programs — and in a venue that’s not KU’s home court, but about 50 miles away.
NMSU is getting $90,000 for its appearance today, the Las Cruces Sun-News reports.
New Mexico State is 0-3 alltime against the Jayhawks, including a 75-56 loss to open the 2015 NCAA Tournament. The other two losses were at KU’s home court at Allen Fieldhouse.
Kansas., which has won 14 consecutive Big 12 regularseason championships, boasts a roster that includes four players averaging in doublefigures, though 7-footer Udoka Azubuike (12.9 points, 6.1 rebounds per game) suffered a high-ankle sprain in its last game Tuesday against Wofford and is out until further notice. Dedric Lawson, 6-9, averaging a double-double with 19 points and 10.7 rebounds on the season to go with his team-high 22 assists, is perhaps the shiniest star on a team full of them.
The Aggies will try to beat a ranked opponent for the second straight season, which would be a first in program history. NMSU topped Miami last year when it was ranked sixth nationally. Jans, a former Wichita State assistant getting back into the neighborhood, is 35-7 in his second year as Aggies coach.
Women
No. 17 ASU 69, SOUTHERN 47: In Tempe, Ariz., Courtney Ekmark scored 19 points Friday night and was 3-of-7 from 3-point range to help the Sun Devils (6-2) beat the Jaguars (2-5) for their fourth straight win. FORT LEWIS 88, N.M. HIGHLANDS 51: In Las Vegas, N.M., the Cowgirls (2-7 overall, 0-2 RMAC) fell to the Skyhawks (4-3, 1-1).
Brianna Stewart led NMHU with 19 poinds, six rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Jordyn Lewis added 11 points, three rebounds and two steals for the Cowgirls.